Pet Rescue of Mercer Animals in Need of Extensive Medical Care!

PRM is dedicated to helping animals receive the veterinary care that they so desperately need to help them correct and treat extreme medical issues, congenital defects and other injuries. These medical problems are very often the only thing standing between the animals and a loving, adoptive home. Now, we are asking for your help. The veterinary care for just these special animals has been over $4,000 and climbing, as an all volunteer, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Pet Rescue of Mercer relies on your donations to continue saving lives. Contributions can be made online through our website www.petrescueofmercer.org or mailed directly to us at Pet Rescue of Mercer, P.O. Box 2574, Hamilton, NJ 08690.

Celestina is a 4-5 year old yorkie/chihuahua mix who was dumped on the side of a major highway by her owners. Thankfully, a good Samaritan pulled over and rescued her, and drove her to a local animal hospital who contacted us for help. Celestina is extremely underweight and suffering from a skin condition that caused her to lose most of her hair. Her ears are bleeding and oozing, signs of an extreme infection that has gone untreated for far too long. She is in extreme discomfort from her ears and will likely need surgery to help them heal. She is currently thriving on the love, care and medical attention she is recieving, but still has a long road to recovery.

Read more about Celestina here >>> http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17059795

Wishbone is a 8-week old kitten who was found near a local cemetary, alone, filthy and malnourished. When we came to her rescue, we found she had been limping around on a broken back leg. She was rushed to the vet and x-rays showed a severe fracture just above her knee. The surgery to save her leg was completely successful and a metal pin was inserted to stabilize her leg. She's currently in foster care learing how to walk with her repaired leg, but still faces another operation in 4 weeks to remove the pin. Although she has endured so much in her short life, she is extremely affectionate and loving, and just loves to nuzzle her head against your warm hand.

Read more about Wishbone here >>> http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17057772

Norman is an incredible 5-year old German Shepherd who was found abandoned along with his brother. Norman was in horrible condition when he came into our care: severely emaciated, dehydrated and suffering from a severe, advanced upper respiratory infection. He has been hospitalized for weeks and was recently moved to foster care to continue healing. Despite his rough past, Norman is the sweetest, most loving guy we know. He loves to lean up against you or squeeze his way under your hand to make sure he gets pet and scratched. He is wonderful in the house and gets along famously with other dogs. He is ready to find his forever home, and deserves the best! Read more about Norman here >>> http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/16624373

Help Norman!

We are asking for your help Norman's care. Norman had a severe upper respiratory and was hospitalized for weeks. His vet bills have been over $1,100 so far, and as an all volunteer, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Pet Rescue of Mercer relies heavily on your donations to continue saving lives. Contributions can be made online through our website www.petrescueofmercer.org or mailed directly to us at Pet Rescue of Mercer, P.O. Box 2574, Hamilton, NJ 08690.


Norman is the most loving and sweet German Shepherd who looking for his forever home. We know there are German Shepherd lovers out there that will just scoop this boy up. He is a fantastic dog and everyone has good things to say about him. Read on to learn more about this incredible dog who has overcome so many obstacles, all he needs now is his loving family to find and adopt him.

Norman was brought to the shelter as a stray along with his older brother, Otis. They were found trying to cross a major highway in central NJ when animal control was called and picked them up. Both boys were extremely underweight, and Norman especially was emaciated. He is a tall boy at 76 pounds and is slowly gaining weight, but still has approximately 15 pounds to gain.


Their owners never came back for them, and neither Norman nor Otis were doing well in the shelter. Not eating and very depressed - the shelter staff even offered these boys Burger King, and while just Norman ate two burgers one day, neither was interested the next day. To make matters worse, both had developed a severe upper respiratory infection.

Their time was running low and with a holiday weekend coming up, the shelter management was concerned with them staying there all weekend in such poor condition. They needed immediate medical intervention and IV nutritional support, or they would not make it.

When we got the email about these boys one Friday morning, we knew their fate was in our hands. Despite the fact that we were full as usual, I found myself on the way to the shelter to pick them up. When I met Norman, he was laying sprawled out on the indoor part of the kennel run. He was so skinny, but managed to find the strength to lift up his head and greet me.

Otis was laying in the corner of the outside part of the run. His eyes followed me, but he did not even have the strength to lift up his head. His coat was a grooming disaster, he reeked of urine and his nose was caked over with snot. But his eyes said so much. Despite his pitiful state and past neglect, it was clear he was a beautiful dog. I choked back tears as I tried to get out the words let's load them up.

Although he was the skinnier of the two, Norman was able to walk to the car. Otis had to be carried. On the car ride from the shelter to the vet's, Norman actually climbed over the backseat, came and nuzzled his head under my arm, and then returned to the back to be with his brother. Dogs are just incredible.

I rushed to the hospital and as I unloaded Norman, Otis picked his head up and the expression of gratitude in his eyes is something that will forever be engrained in my memory. I gave him a kiss and brought Norman inside. Two vet technicians carried Otis straight into the back to get him on fluids, and Norman was brought back shortly after.

Otis

Otis sadly passed over the rainbow bridge that evening. In addition to his weak state and upper respiratory, he had a large, cancerous tumor in his mouth. It is extremely devastating, but we are content that he experienced kindness and love from humans on his last day.

Our vet was confident that Norman would make it, and he was right. He did not have any underlying health issues and just needed to build up strength to battle the upper respiratory infection. Norman had been staying in isolation at our veterinary hospital for the past 4 weeks. His appetite has increased, although his favorite meal remains the pot roast dinner that he shared with our veterinarian. Norman has charmed over everyone at the vet's office, they are all in love with him there. He gets along excellent with other dogs, cats and kids.

Norman's upper respiratory infection is no longer contagious and he is currently in a foster home. There is a lingering sneeze here and there, but Norman is feeling much better. All he needs now is to gain some more weight and he'll be all set. He is about 5 years old, neutered and up to date on shots, and will weight approximately 90 pounds when at a healthy weight.


Norman is calm, loving, sweet and friendly. He will be fine in a home with other animals or kids. He is not extremely energetic, bouncy or over the top hyper. He wants to just hang out with his family, lounge on the couch and maybe take a short walk once or twice a day. He is happiest when you are rubbing his ears and if you stop, he'll just nudge in closer to get some more love.

Please contact us if you are interested in meeting, adopting or learning more about this fantastic dog.

Hero update!

Hero's stitches came out earlier this week! His wound is almost completely healed and he just has a little scab there. He has some scar tissue that our vet considered surgically removing, but we have decided to hold off for now. Since he is so young, he doesn't want to put him under anesthesia again. If he still has scar tissue when he is old enough to be neutered, our vet will remove it then and do some cosmetic surgery.

Hero is currently in a foster home and is ready to find his forever home. He is finally learning what its like to be a real puppy. He is working on crate training, housebreaking and other basic puppy manners. He loves to run around, chew on his chew toys and cuurl up and cuddle with you once he's all played up.

Help puppy HERO!

Meet our sweet little HERO. Hero is just a baby at 5-weeks old and arrived at the shelter with a huge laceration crossing over his back from one rear leg to the other. The shelter cleaned and flushed the wound, and then contacted rescue immediately, knowing he needed more medical attention and to get out of the shelter environment as soon as possible.

Hero is currently staying at our vet’s office where the wound was closed and is draining. It had become infected and this little pup is working on fighting that off too. This poor little puppy was allegedly attacked by another dog, but the wound is not from another dog. Although no one wants to out right say it, a very sharp object did this to this poor baby. It’s so horrible.


Hero is stable, but wants nothing more than to sleep and cuddle. It’s hard for him to get comfortable with the wound, but we know he’ll be a normal, bouncy puppy in just a few more weeks. Hero will soon be looking for a loving family to make up for his horrendous, sad start.

An update on SAMSON

New pictures of Samson!!

Here is a long overdue update on our wonderful Samson. He is now ready to find his forever home! His wounds are healing extremely well and he has gained a lot of weight. His bones will build up more strength and his toes look like webbed feet (from malnutrition), but he is walking around now. He can’t run or move fast yet but hopefully soon!

Our vet’s office is working on socializing him and he hangs out in their offices most of the time. He wanders around the clinic a lot when it’s not busy, but he stays right by everyone’s side. He is madly in love with one of the female vets and he sleeps at her feet when she’s in her office.

The vet’s office had the local pre-school stop in last week for a 15 minute tour. One of the vet techs said she heard squeals and at first thought Gibson was being mouthy - ended up he was just so happy to see the kids. He couldn't decide which child he wanted to go to first and was running up and down the line. He loved the kids and was wonderful with them.

Samson LOVES other dogs and is acting more and more like a puppy everyday. His personality is just wonderful. PRM and Samson would like to THANK YOU ALL for the wonderful outpour of support for this sweet, special dog. As an all volunteer, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Pet Rescue of Mercer is still in need of donations for Samson’s vet care.

SAVING SAMSON

Please be warned that Samson’s story is devastating and the pictures can be graphic. That being said, we are desperate for your support in saving this sweet, little boy.

Samson is an adorable, but very sad 6-8 month old black lab/pit bull mix puppy. He looks the size of a 4-month old puppy, and we believe his growth was stunted, and he may not get much bigger. He was found in the basement of an abandoned home, unable to stand or walk, extremely emaciated and dehydrated.


The shelter believes that Samson was severely abused: dragged and tortured. He has multiple, seriously infected open wounds on his hind legs, knees, ankles and feet. One of the wounds on his knee is especially severe, and the tissues are dead and necrotic. His paws are splayed due to malnutrition and he was unable to get up and walking. X-rays have not revealed any breaks yet and it may just be the extent and pain from his open wounds. X-rays of his stomach show that this baby was eating rocks and dirt, probably in an attempt to survive.


The shelter began treatment for Samson’s wounds and sent out an emergency plea, knowing he would heal much faster outside of the shelter environment. One look into Samson’s eyes and our rescue responded immediately.


Samson arrived at our veterinary hospital on April 19 in the evening, and we will post updates on his prognosis as they are available.

UPDATE April 21: The shelter bandaged Samson up and he was brought to the safety of our veterinary hospital. He curled up into a little ball on the front passenger seat in the car and did not budge the whole ride! Our veterinarian determined Sam is only about 6 months old and he weighs a whopping 25 pounds. He confirmed that Samson was dragged, as his paw pads are completely shorn off. Fortanately, they will grow back with time. Most of his open wounds will heal with time and TLC, however, the one large wound on his knee will require skin grafts. Samson will be going in for surgery on Thursday, April 22 to have skin grafts performed on his knee. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts, he still has a long road to recovery!

Now, we are asking for your help in saving Samson’s life. As an all volunteer, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Pet Rescue of Mercer relies heavily on your donations to continue saving lives. We desperately need your support for Samson. Contributions can be made online through our website www.petrescueofmercer.org or mailed directly to us at Pet Rescue of Mercer, P.O. Box 2574, Hamilton, NJ 08690.


Please keep Samson in your thoughts, he needs all the support he can get.

Help Rudy!

Rudy is one fantastic pit bull mix waiting patiently for his big break in life. Read on to learn more about this incredible dog who has overcome so many obstacles, all he needs now is his forever home.

His story...

Rudy suffered from major trauma before he walked through the doors of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Sadly, we'll never know what exactly happened to Rudy, but it was devastating. He arrived a physical mess. Underweight and had major neurological troubles with walking. The shelter also feared Rudy has problems with seeing and hearing.

Yet, Rudy was one of the lucky ones. His past was rough but he made it out with his life. Even more importantly, his love for humans is intact. He has no fear, no aggression towards humans, and greets everyone with his tail-wagging, wiggly butt.

The shelter worked to nurse Rudy back to health, but they are limited in the amount of care they can give. He greatly improved medically and was able to put up for adoption.

Rudy sat in a cage for months, watching everyone walk right by him. No one would adopt a dog with such an intense medical history, let alone a pit bull with medical issues!

This fantastic dog, again, had to beat unbelievable odds. He had to make it out of a shelter that regularly already has a 40% euthanasia rate. The spread of disease in another shelter in Philadelphia had caused the shelter to temporarily shut down, and the 150 dogs had to be transferred to the PSPCA. As a result of space constraints, Rudy was now on the urgent list.

His present...

One of PRM's volunteers had met him previously during a shelter visit, and when she saw Rudy on the urgent list, she could not stop thinking about his happy, wiggle butt self. We knew what fate would happen to him if we did not come to his rescue.

So, we made arrangements and drove to Philadelphia to pick up this special boy. He lacked confidence outside of the shelter, and had to be picked up into the car. He slept the whole ride home back to NJ without making a peep, just curled up, enjoying the peace and quiet.

Rudy's first step was our veterinary office, to find out everything about what's going on. Once again, Rudy had more luck. He can both hear and see fine. Our vet x-rayed his pelvis and it also his perfectly fine. Yes, he wobbles when he walks, his gait isn't the steadiest, but he is not in any pain, and Rudy seems perfectly happy and content with his condition.

Yes, Rudy walks funny. It's cute in its own way. But other than that, he does not have any long-term medical issues. He is up to date on shots, neutered and only about 1-2 years old and 45-50 pounds.

Rudy is fine with other dogs and would probably be okay with cats too. He is not very energetic, hyper or over-the-top bouncy. A walk or two a day and he will be more than happy to hang out with you around the house or snuggle up on the sofa.

His future...

Rudy faces just one last obstacle. He needs an end to his story. A home to come home to. And we know with his luck, he'll find the most wonderful family. Maybe with you?